MOTD: May 09, 2021

A stack of vinyl albums in their sleeves face the right side of the photo. The last album in the stack is out of its sleeve. They are organized on a tabletop in front of a lamp with a white a gold patterned lampshade, all inside a pale blue painted room.
MOTD
Rosenberg Mention of the Day: This Mothers' Day we're delighted to share this beautiful look into Ethel Rosenberg's early life and love of music 💕 Take a walk through a collection of her favorite… Read More

MOTD: May 07, 2021

University of Oregon student and Indigenous activist Violet Johnson reads a poem under one of several trees adorned with red dresses Wednesday night. CREDIT BRIAN BULL / KLCC
MOTD
Artists as Activists Mention of the Day: “…to show a garment that’s empty, because the women are missing. In many Indigenous cultures, the only color that the spirits can see is red…hoping that they… Read More

MOTD: May 06, 2021

A vivid painting portrays a Black woman in the Biblical role of "Judith" in a dark blue dress and hair done up in an intricate updo on her head. She stands with legs slight apart and faces forward but slightly to the right. Her arms swing to the left of the painting across her body, she holds the severed head of a white man with long brown hair, who portrays the Biblical role of "Holofernes." The background of the painting depicts vivid orange and blue flowers, green leaves & vines all set on black.
MOTD
Strange Fruit Mention of the Day: Kehinde Wiley's 2012 painting "Judith and Holofernes" is a modern take on a Biblical story reimagined time and again in classical arts, this time depicting a Black… Read More

MOTD: May 05, 2021

Close-up portrait of Billie Holiday shown looking away from a mirror behind her. She wears her long hair in a low ponytail, intricate jeweled earrings that hang low and crawl up the ear. She smiles. Her reflection is visible looking in the opposite direction.
MOTD
Strange Fruit Mention of the Day: “'Strange Fruit,' was originally a poem written by Abel Meeropol, entitled 'Bitter Fruit.' As a song sung by Holiday, it became a classic.

MOTD: May 03, 2021

Scrapbook format with dark blue and purple marble swirl background with two images which appear to be taped to the background. Polaroid photo design with image of Jenn Meeropol on the left, ripped graph paper on the right with blog title in orange text reads "Strange Fruit" & the Magic of Out-of-the-Blue Donations"; black text under reads "by Jennifer Meeropol" and black text on the side reads "May 3, 2021"
MOTD
Strange Fruit Mention of the Day: When donations seemingly come to the RFC from out-of-the-blue, Executive Director Jenn Meeropol always wishes she could understand donors' motivations for… Read More

MOTD: Apr 30, 2021

Black and white photo of James Baldwin seated wearing a black jacket, scarf, and sunglasses on his head. Caption below reads "Image via Sophie Bassouls/Sygma via Getty Images"
MOTD
Strange Fruit Mention of the Day: #checksout ✅ "The notion that Baldwin — perhaps the most prominent Black American writer of the 20th century — was taught English literature by a white, Jewish… Read More

MOTD: Apr 28, 2021

Dr. Bertice Berry
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Strange Fruit Mention of the Day: A few months ago we stumbled across Dr. Bertice Berry's powerful arrangement and performance of "Strange Fruit"; we continue to feel its impact. We'd like to share… Read More

MOTD: Apr 27, 2021

Black and white photo or Billie Holiday singing on stage in front of a microphone. She wears a floral patterned dress and a fur stole. Her eyes are closed, head tilted to the left, she is singing. 4 band members accompany her including 2 saxophonists, 1 trumpet, & 1 upright bass player. All wear suits. A piano and music stands are visible.
MOTD
Sharing this excellent piece about the history of the iconic protest song "Strange Fruit" for today's joint Strange Fruit & Rosenberg Mention of the Day: From the article, "In the 21st century, '… Read More

MOTD: Apr 23, 2021

Black and white photo from 1954 of Abel Meeropol (middle) playing with his two sons, Robert (left) and Michael (right) in front of a model train set.
MOTD
Strange Fruit Mention of the Day: Tomorrow morning, you can catch RFC Founder Robert Meeropol & Advisory Board member Michael Meeropol on CBS's "This Morning: Saturday"! They were interviewed for… Read More

MOTD: Apr 22, 2021

Poem handwritten with black ink on grid paper. Poem reads: While you're worried about "bad apples" / We're wary of the roots / Because no healthy tree / Naturally bears strange fruit
MOTD
Strange Fruit Mention of the Day: No more #strangefruit. RIP #GeorgeFloyd, #MaKhaiBryant, #DaunteWright, #AdamToledo, & so many others. #BlackLivesMatter  . . . . . . . . Poem by Jessica Foster,… Read More

MOTD: Apr 20, 2021

Close up photo of Billie Holiday wearing a lavender dress, hair styled up, and a diamond necklace. Gray background with spotlight on Billie.
MOTD
Strange Fruit Mention of the Day: “Though we know Billie Holiday’s voice as one that redefined jazz, her voice also heralded an anti-racist movement throughout the ’40s and fought for survival… Read More

MOTD: Apr 06, 2021

U.S. singer Paul Robeson gestures during his speech at the World Peace Conference held on April 20, 1949 at the Pleyel Hall in Paris, France.
MOTD
Strange Fruit Mention of the Day: This is a great piece (*w/ a few errors, noted below) from author Tayo Aluko in The Progressive.

MOTD: Apr 05, 2021

Painting of the faces of Ethel & Julius Rosenberg in the style of a simplistic drawing, in black and white, transposed over the image of the American flag in color. The image rests on a violet background.
MOTD
Rosenberg Mention of the Day: #OnThisDay 70 years ago on April 5, 1951, Ethel & Julius Rosenberg were sentenced to death by Judge Irving Kaufman after being convicted of "conspiracy to commit… Read More

MOTD: Mar 29, 2021

Collage of images. 1) Framed in gold, black & white image of Ethel & Julius seated at Sing Sing, they are separated by a chain link fence, facing the camera. 2) framed in pink, black & white photo of protest sign "Mr. President do not let hysterical fear to override justice!" - both images rest on a darkened floral background.
MOTD
Rosenberg Mention of the Day: On this day, March 29, 1951, after a deeply tainted, politically-motivated trial lasting three weeks, Julius & Ethel Rosenberg were convicted of conspiracy to commit… Read More

MOTD: Mar 27, 2021

black & white image of Ethel & Julius seated at Sing Sing, they are separated by a chain link fence, facing the camera.
MOTD
Rosenberg Mention of the Day: As the 70th anniversary of Julius & Ethel Rosenberg's conviction approaches, we share this timely piece about what Ethel's conviction in particular exposes about the… Read More

MOTD: Mar 26, 2021

Illustration of the artist H.E.R. against a purple cityscape backdrop. She wears sunglasses, red lipstick, and long hair down; she holds up a poster that reads "I CAN'T BREATHE"
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Strange Fruit Mention of the Day: Today we're listening to "I Can't Breathe" by H.E.R., a powerful protest song named 2021 "Song of the Year" at the Grammys, written in response to recent police… Read More

MOTD: Mar 25, 2021

Full color image (framed in sea green) of Peter Mulvey playing his guitar on stage. He wears a blue/red plaid button down shirt and a brown hat. He looks down & to his right. Below, The River logo, text reads: "93.9 & 101.5 The River | Different is Good"
MOTD
RFC advisory board member Peter Mulvey is performing LIVE (virtually) this Sat. night at 9PM (EST)! Join this Signature Sounds recording artist on The River 93.9! Stream it right here: https://wrsi.… Read More

MOTD: Mar 23, 2021

Two copies of Anne Sebba's biography "Ethel Rosenberg: An American Tragedy" rest on a gray backdrop facing up. The US version rests on the left, the UK version rests of the right, tilted to see the spine and cover.
MOTD
Rosenberg Mention of the Day: Announcing a NEW biography on the life of Ethel Rosenberg, written by New York Times bestselling author Anne Sebba. Read the RFC's article with more details here: https… Read More
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